Editor: Unfiltered opinions on politics and news coverage

No matter how many times I've made this point — that politics has nothing to do with local news decisions — perceptions don't dramatically change.

BILL CHURCH

A reader who identified himself as Jim Johnson emailed last week, offering a list of concerns he had about news decisions and how we were showing our political bias.

No matter how many times I've made this point — that politics has nothing to do with local news decisions — perceptions don't dramatically change.

Each reader, even the most academically trained, filters news consumption through his or her values. When the Herald-Tribune authenticates your values, you consider our coverage fair and balanced. When we don't reflect your values, you call, write, mutter or give up.

And that leads us to Benghazi. Most people couldn't find it on a map, yet the Libyan city has become a divisive political issue since the deadly terrorist attacks on the U.S. consulate there in 2012. The Obama administration is being questioned about security measures, whether the attacks could have been prevented, and if critical information is being withheld for political reasons.

A May 9-12 Pew Research Center survey shows 44 percent of Americans are following the congressional hearings “very or fairly closely.” Critics say that's fewer than half, yet there's no doubt that Benghazi has generated intense, partisan feelings.

Mr. Johnson's email was ignited by our lack of Benghazi coverage in the May 11 edition. In our cordial email exchange, Mr. Johnson wrote: “My point was not covering the Benghazi cover up is one of the things --- selective coverage which is favorable to Obama --- which is going to cost news organizations, especially print news, tons of readers.”

Yes, we should have had a story on May 11. Release of documents was an important news thread in this ongoing story.

But I respectfully disagree that there's been selective efforts by news organizations to favor President Obama. The journalistic bandwidth — from bloggers to dailies to TV networks — is too wide, diverse and complex to generate such a conspiratorial consensus.

So, Mr. Johnson, would you like to know what I really think?

I'm angered by the Justice Department's secret subpoena to access Associated Press phone records after information was leaked from the Obama administration. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s rationalization has shown a blatant disregard for protecting the public's right to know.

It's also disconcerting how slowly President Obama has reacted to the burgeoning IRS scandal, in which officials targeted conservative advocacy groups. The widespread lack of oversight raises questions about who in the Obama administration knew this was happening.

Similar Pew studies have shown an erosion of trust in government. The growing resume of big-brother blunders under the Obama administration won't change perceptions that the federal government needs reform. If you need proof, reread Jeremy Wallace's report on congressional travel gone wild.

That's why Mr. Johnson deserves the last words. I haven't met the guy, but I respect his intellect and candor.

And class.

Here is how Mr. Johnson ended his email:

“My favorite quote from Thomas Jefferson is the one where he says given a choice between government and newspapers, he'd choose the latter every time. Me, too. And they treated him much worse than the American press treats conservatives and Republicans these days.

“Thanks a million for taking your time with this, Mr. Church.”

Bill Church can be contacted at bill.church@heraldtribune.com or (941) 361-4991. Follow him on Twitter @BillChurchMedia.